by Sam Hawcroft
A new exhibition at Withernsea Lighthouse celebrating people with connections to the town has been officially opened by the town’s mayor.
Made in Withernsea shines a light on local talent and achievement across the arts, music, sport, broadcasting, science and other fields.
Cllr Kristina Richardson cut the ribbon to officially open the exhibition, which has replaced the former Kay Kendall bedroom display after more than 35 years.
Among those attending the opening were Matthew Pottage, head of horticulture and landscape strategy at London’s Royal Parks, medical illustrator Annamaria Dutto and BBC Radio Humberside presenter Kofi Smiles, who are all featured in the exhibition.
Others celebrated in the display, with plans for more to be added in future, include artist Richie Culver, musician Gary Marx, former footballer and manager Stuart Gray, Eurovision star Sam Battle, West End actress Amanda Salmon and “Lorenzo’s Oil” chemist Don Suddaby.
Lighthouse manager Lindsey Jones said the exhibition had been a long time coming and would give the museum a fresh space to celebrate the town’s wider story.
She said: “We’ve had a bedroom here for about 35 years, and now we’ve got something totally new and fresh. It features various people who have a connection to Withernsea. They don’t have to have been born here, but they’ve got a connection to the town in one way or another, and we’re celebrating their achievements.
“We’ve actually got enough people to do a whole second exhibition, because the town has so many talented people.”
Lindsey said the display would remain up throughout the summer and could become a community space for future exhibitions involving local people.
Kristina said the exhibition was an important way of celebrating both the town’s history and its present-day achievements.
She said: “It takes a lot of hard work to pull something like this together, especially going out for grant funding, so a massive well done to everyone involved.
“We have a whole wealth of history here in Withernsea, which is fantastic, but it’s also important that we create our own living history and start to look forward.”
Kofi said it was special to be included.
He said: “For people to see the work that you do and see it as something interesting and cool, or maybe even inspirational – it’s brilliant.”